In my opinion, naming people on your blog is going too far.

I work with a variety of injury lawyers. Some are larger firms, some are solo operations. I have yet to ever meet an attorney who thinks it is a good idea to put people’s names on their blog.

Content gone wrong

Putting people’s names on a blog is a growing trend in Los Angeles. Most attorneys know that “they need content”. Then they find a content writer and they start copying everyone.

In fact, I operate a blog in LA which multiple content writers sit around copying on a regular basis. Which is fine – I mean LA personal injury is indeed a tough niche.

There are multiple problems with this:

  • It pays to be first. If you are just sitting around copying others, you will never be ahead of the curve. You will also fail to get the SEO benefits. Covering hot topics is great and all but if it isn’t resulting in phone calls from KTLA you are probably just making an idiot of yourself. I call this content regurgitation.
  • Content helps SEO. But only when done correctly. The structure, hierarchy, timing, way it links back to your other content, etc must be done just right. If you haven’t sat down and cranked out 10,000 articles like your life depended on it, you have a LONG way to go. Most SEO companies just hire random writers to just get content just to have content. Well, that isn’t going to help. I call this the tip of the content iceberg. It is kind of like buying food; you know you need it, but having a huge pile of it in your trunk isn’t helpful…

A recent crash

In early January, a woman was killed in a hit and run accident. She happened to be an Uber driver, and her name was Folesha Parker Iverson. A quick Google search shows us that West Alliance Injury Lawyers, Law Office of Tawni Takagi, Law Offices of Jacoby and Meyers, Johnson Attorneys Group and others all jumped on this content.

Case in point:

Screenshot of Google search results in Los Angeles 1/25/2017

A better option exists

Now what good is mentioning all of this here without actionable advice?

Instead of using Folesha’s name and pissing off her entire family, there are more subtle ways to go about it.

A better headline for search could be called “Uber Driver Tragically Killed by Los Angeles Hit and Run Driver”. Then the content could mention this specific accident without adding Folesha’s name. The article could be more generic and be evergreen, applying to future fatal Uber accidents. It could even discuss Uber’s insurance policy and why victims of hit and runs are covered due to Uber’s uninsured and underinsured motorist policy. I see no problem in doing this at all.

But, keep in mind, unless your SEO team actually gives a crap about your success, they probably know nothing about UM/UIM in California and nor have they read Uber’s insurance policy or spoken to them on the phone.

Recap

There is no problem covering local accidents, and done correctly, you are probably even in compliance with the ABA. Current, relevant events inspire articles, but they can be made evergreen with better titles, and less tacky by not including people’s names.

I also have yet to meet an attorney who retained a client due to using their name on their blog.

Have you?